Undefeated USC Women Take On No. 19 Texas A&M At Galen Center

Women of Troy face their first ranked opponent in a 7 p.m. televised clash with the Aggies on Friday.

John McGillen

Women's Basketball | December 12, 2017

USC (8-0) vs. #19 Texas A&M (8-2)
Galen Center | Los Angeles, Calif.
Friday, Dec. 15 | 7 p.m.
Series Record: USC leads 3-2
Last Meeting: W, 66-62 (Nov. 30, 2016 • College Station)
Current Streak: USC won 1
TV: Pac-12 Los Angeles (Announcer: Christian Miles)
Live Stream | Live Stats | Tickets
Promo: Toy Drive: —Free admission with a toy donation at game

THIS WEEK
One of just 12 undefeated teams in the nation, USC enters this week with a chance to earn additional national attention as the Trojans turn to face their first ranked opponent of the season. On Friday (Dec. 15), USC puts its 8-0 overall record up against No. 19 Texas A&M (8-2) in a 7 p.m. televised clash at Galen Center. The game will air live on Pac-12 Los Angeles with Christian Miles on the call.

IN THE NATION
USC is unranked but is receiving votes in this week's AP and USA Today Coaches poll. Texas A&M ranks No. 19 in this week's AP poll and No. 22 in the Coaches poll.

CLEAR BAGS, PLEASE!
To provide a safer environment for the public and significantly expedite guest entry into the venue, the Galen Center will be implementing a "clear bag policy" that limits the size and type of bags that may be brought into the arena for all events (one clear bag no larger than 12" x 6" x 12" per person) starting January 1, 2018. The policy does not affect other items that fans normally bring to a game, which still can be carried in their pockets or openly in their arms. Also, for increased security, all guests entering the Galen Center walk through metal detector screening with arms raised (guests should remove metal items from pockets).

SCOUTING TEXAS A&M
The Aggies enter the week 8-2 overall after beating Central Arkansas 72-61 in their last action. Chennedy Carter leads Texas A&M in scoring with 18.5 points per game, and Anriel Howard leads on the boards with 12.9 rebounds per game. USC is 3-2 all-time against the Aggies after 66-62 win last year in College Station.

LAST ACTION: AT LMU
In a fiercely contested battle between two of the nation's unbeaten programs, it was the USC women's basketball team who came away unscathed and emerged victorious with an 80-70 victory over host Loyola Marymount at Gersten Pavilion on Dec. 1. Behind a career-high 34 points from sophomore Minyon Moore, the Trojans withstood a number of Lion scoring runs in the final three quarters of the game to secure their eighth win in a row and their fourth straight over LMU in the all-time series. For USC, Moore had a game-high 34 points on an incredible 21-of-23 shooting night from the free-throw line to go along with seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal. Moore's 34 points were the most scored by any USC player since Ariya Crook did so in 2014. In addition, her 21 free throws made matches the single-game program record set by Trojan great Cheryl Miller in 1985. Moore's 23 free throws attempted was also the second most in a single game all-time at USC. Senior Kristen Simon added 16 points for the Trojan cause and hauled in 10 rebounds for a double-double — the 20th of her Trojan career — while junior Aliyah Mazyck scored 13 points on three 3-pointers with five rebounds. Senior Sadie Edwards chipped in eight points, six rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks. Redshirt senior Jordan Adams recorded nine boards and had four assists on the night.

HITTING HIGH MARKS IN HAWAI'I
During USC's victorious run through the Rainbow Wahine Showdown the week of Thanksgiving, two milestones were hit by Trojans. With her fourth of a final 16 points in the Nov. 25 win over Marist, senior Kristen Simon joined the 1,000-point club at USC, becoming the 26th Trojan to break that barrier. The very next day, USC gathered a 71-60 win over host Hawai'i, notching USC head coach Mark Trakh's 400th career victory as a head coach. His career record now stands at 401-267 (.600) in his 23rd season of coaching. Now with 1,053 career points, Simon ranks No. 23 all-time in scoring at USC. USC will honor Simon and Trakh's milestones in a pregame ceremony on Friday (Dec. 15.)

STAY GOLD
These two simple words are being used to define a new culture shift and a hopeful rebirth of the storied USC women's basketball program under the direction of newly-minted Trojan head coach Mark Trakh. "With this team, it's all about the culture," Trakh said. "We want the golden standard of cultures here at USC and to get our kids to be on the same page — to work hard, work together, play together hard offensively and defensively, be consistent with that effort, and represent the university well on and off the floor. I think that's the formula to winning and getting back in the tournament, and having that structure will go a long way for us this year and moving forward." #StayGold

TROJAN GREATNESS
USC senior Kristen Simon has received national acclaim as one of the nation's top-20 centers named to the watch list for the 2018 Lisa Leslie Award. The Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Coaches Association released their selections on Nov. 10. The award — named for Trojan great Lisa Leslie, who was a three-time All-American and 1994 National Player of the Year during her time at USC — will honor the nation's top center, to be announced at the NCAA Women's Final Four in Columbus, Ohio. This 20-player watch list will narrow to 10 in mid-February before five finalists are revealed in March. Simon, a 6-2 post who officially starts her senior season with the Women of Troy tonight in USC's home opener at 4 p.m., was named to the All-Pac-12 Team as a junior. She led the Trojans in scoring (14.6 points per game) and rebounding (8.7 rebounds per game) in the 2016-17 campaign. The versatile Simon has collected 18 double-doubles in her USC career to date, boasting a 21-rebound performance as a sophomore to net the fourth most single-game records ever by a Trojan. That effort was just two boards away from the career-best posted by Leslie while she was a Trojan.

LOOK WHO'S BACK
Mark Trakh is no stranger to the demands of being a head coach in one of the premier conferences for women's basketball. During his first tenure at USC (2004-09), he compiled a 90-64 overall record, making back-to-back NCAA appearances before a series of promising seasons that were eventually derailed by injuries to key players. Trakh also was able to compile an 8-3 record against crosstown rival UCLA while winning at least 17 games in each season as head coach. In his 22 years as a head coach — spanning Pepperdine, USC, New Mexico State and now a second stretch at USC — he has led his teams to eight NCAA appearances while building up a 393-267 career coaching record. For this 2017-18 season, Trakh has brought in associate head coach Jason Glover and assistant coaches Aarika Hughes, who played for Trakh at USC, and Blanche Alverson as his coaching staff.

SUPER SENIOR
Jordan Adams, a 6-1 guard from Irvine, Calif., was granted a sixth-year of eligibility by the NCAA after a season-ending knee injury last year. Now, the captain is back to bring a veteran presence at the point guard position. Prior to her injury, the former McDonald's All-American was having her best season in a Trojan uniform, averaging 8.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game and shooting over 55 percent from the floor in five games.

MORE SENIOR STRENGTH
Sadie Edwards, a 5-10 guard who earned Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention after playing in all 30 games and starting the final 22 games last season, returns in the backcourt. The Connecticut product finished second on the team in 3-pointers made last season (24) and averaged 9.2 ppg, often being called upon to hit big shots. Bringing additional experience and leadership in the post is All-Pac-12 Team honoree Kristen Simon, who holds 17 career double-doubles to her name. Simon led USC in scoring (14.6 ppg) and rebounding (8.7 rpg) as a junior, starting all 27 games in which she appeared. The 6-2 Gardena, Calif. product also played the second most minutes per game last season (behind former guard Courtney Jaco) and will look to have another star-studded season as a senior starter.

HIGH POWER DOWN LOW
USC also has a quartet of young post players in sophomore forwards Asiah Jones, Ja'Tavia Tapley, Dani Milisic, and junior forward Marguerite Effa — all of whom are hoping to make 2017-18 their breakout seasons. Jones, an athletic 6-3 post played in 29 games as a true freshman and made some noise when she delivered eight blocks in a game against Mississippi State last season, the most by a USC player since Trojan great Lisa Leslie had eight in 1993 and the third most blocks ever recorded by a Trojan in a single game. She led USC in blocks last season with 35. Tapley, a versatile 6-3 forward, showed flashes of her potential last season after appearing in all 30 games and starting the last 15 of the year as a freshman. She set career highs with 15 points against Arizona and eight rebounds against WSU and averaged 5.7 ppg and 3.2 rpg. Also returning is redshirt sophomore Milisic, who brings both strength and length in the post. The 6-4 Australian looms as USC's tallest player on the roster this season. Milisic made her Trojan debut last year, playing in 20 games and shooting 40 percent from the floor. Rounding out the post players is 6-3 junior Effa, a native of Cameroon who prepped in Los Angeles and who boasts tremendous athletic ability. In addition to their defensive abilities, Trakh looks to these four to expand their offensive range and provide some support in the frontcourt for Simon.

BACK FOR MOORE
USC's 5-8 sophomore guard Minyon Moore was undoubtedly USC's spark plug off the bench last season, playing in all 30 games and leading the team in assists (4.0 apg) and steals (1.9 spg) in addition to finishing second in scoring (11.7 ppg). The Pac-12 All-Freshman Team selection shot 38 percent from 3-point range last season and also made a living at the free-throw line, shooting nearly twice as many free throws as the next player on the team. Trakh will rely on Moore to provide leadership and a big punch in the backcourt with her skills as a savvy distributor and sure scorer.

SPEEDY MAZYCK
USC returns the services of 5-9 junior guard Aliyah Mazyck, a tireless defender with burning quickness who averaged 6.6 ppg and 1.5 steals per game in 19 games last season. With her speed and threat from beyond the arc, a fully healthy Mazyck is guaranteed to cause huge problems for opponents this season.

THE NEW CREW
The Trojans have two newcomers at the guard position, true freshmen Shalexxus Aaron and transfer Mariya Moore. Aaron, a 6-1 guard from Apple Valley, Calif., is the sister of current USC men's basketball player Shaqquan Aaron and was a CIF Southern Section First Team selection and CIF All-State Second Team pick as a senior in 2017. The headliner, however, is All-American caliber guard in Mariya Moore. Mariya, the older sister of current sophomore Minyon, transferred to USC following three successful years at Louisville where she was a three-time selection to the Naismith Trophy Watch List and an All-ACC Second Team performer as a junior for the Cardinal after averaging 12.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg, and 4.9 apg and helping Louisville to the Sweet Sixteen. A jack of all trades, the 6-0 Moore finished in the top-10 at Louisville in career assists, 3-pointers made, and free throws made, and No. 13 all-time in career points (1,365), while registering five career double-doubles and one triple double (11 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists vs. Syracuse). Moore will sit out the 2017-18 season due to NCAA transfer rules and will have one year of eligibility at Troy.

LAST SEASON
USC finished up the 2016-17 season with a 14-16 overall record in head coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke's fourth season at Troy. In Pac-12 play, USC finished tied for ninth place at 5-12 and fell in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament to eight-seeded Cal. At the close of the season, junior Kristen Simon picked up a place on the All-Pac-12 Team, while senior Courtney Jaco earned All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention and Pac-12 All-Defensive Honorable Mention. Freshman Minyon Moore, who was a two-time Pac-12 Freshman of the Week and USBWA National Freshman of the Week during the season, was selected to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team. Simon was USC's top scorer and rebounder with 14.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Moore led the team in assists (4.0 per game) and steals (1.9 per game). Jaco moved up to rank No. 2 all-time at USC in career 3-pointers as she added a team-high 68 threes to her career count in her final season at Troy.

COMMITTED!
USC has added two new members to the Trojan family, as head coach Mark Trakh announced the signings of Jillian Archer and Desiree Caldwell to national letters of intent on Nov. 8. Archer and Caldwell will bring much-needed depth to their respective positions once they arrive on campus, as both prep standouts are set to don the Cardinal and Gold in the fall of 2018. A 6-2 forward from Santa Monica, Calif., Jillian Archer has made a name for herself as one of the best young rebounders and post players in the country. Ranked as the No. 47 overall player and No. 7 forward in the nation according to ESPN, Archer also currently ranks No. 54 overall and as the No. 8 forward according to ProspectsNation. Archer averaged 11.4 points per game to go along with 10.3 rebounds per game as a junior at Bishop Alemany HS in Mission Hills. Archer earned a spot on the All-CIF Southern Section Open Division First Team after she led her Lady Warriors to the CIF Southern California Division 1 Regional State Semifinals. A 5-6 point guard, Desiree "Desi" Caldwell hails from San Antonio, Texas. Ranked the No. 13 guard and the No. 74 overall player in the country according to ESPN, Caldwell currently sits as the nation's No. 14 overall player and No. 5 guard in the land according to ProspectsNation. Caldwell is a quick and savvy floor general who brings multiple years of international experience to Troy, having been part of the USA Basketball U16 National Team where she set the U16 assists record during her play in the 2015 FIBA Americas Tournament Championship. In that tournament held in Puebla, Mexico, she helped Team USA bring home the bronze medal with a 4-1 record. Caldwell will play her senior year of basketball at Byron P. Steele II HS in Cibolo, Texas, after playing one varsity season at Claudia Taylor Johnson HS in San Antonio. As a freshman, Caldwell compiled 316 points, 46 rebounds, 33 assists, and 23 steals, shooting 38 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free-throw line. Although Caldwell has spent the majority of her life in Texas, both of her parents are from California and surrounding Los Angeles areas. Her older sister, Recee, also started her collegiate basketball career at nearby UCLA before transferring to Texas Tech. Caldwell's international experience plus her extensive basketball background will serve her well when she arrives at USC. •

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